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	The Christ-Centered Seal of Approval

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BRANDS: Apply Why Certify? Requirements Process Confidentiality Fees Payments

REQUIREMENTS: What Must be Done to Earn Certification Introduction: OVerus is from the Latin "verus," which means true, proper, or acceptable, and "OVerus" roughly translates to a longing for truth--the truth that is Jesus Christ. The role of the OVerus Organization is to interpret Jesus' teachings, apply them to business, package them in the OVerus emblem, and employ it as an identification mark on brands for good stewards to look for when they shop. This can be a rather complex challenge--thus the need for OVerus supervision. The purpose of this guide is to serve as an overview, and familiarize the reader with the guidelines used when brands are evaluated for OVerus certification. Bear in mind that each certification brings new challenges, and that each brand must be considered individually. OVerus requirements are based on the Bible, but other sources of information are also used as a reference for making difficult judgments in contemporary situations. In addition to the words of Jesus as recorded in different versions of the Bible, OVerus also relies upon interpretations of respected Christian leaders and organizations, recommendations from the Advisory Board, church tradition, observations of God's creation, and prayerful consideration. Evaluating brands against the teachings of Jesus is a challenging task, and requires a great deal of Biblical, historical, and corporate knowledge. First the Christ-centered requirements that are most applicable had to be selected. We view the current requirements as a good starting point, but expect them to evolve over the years. Each brand must then be assessed against these criteria. For small businesses and private companies with a simple corporate structure, this can often be done relatively easily, but for a large, public company, things get more difficult. Annual reports, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) data, publicly available IRS forms, corporate announcements, private data, and other sources of information must all be considered. This information is processed, a conclusion is reached, and sometimes business policies must be modified before certification can take place. It is practically impossible for a good steward to investigate every brand that they buy. The OVerus Organization has taken on this responsibility, and made it much easier for a Christian shopper to choose brands consistent with their values. They can simply look for the logo, or consult our Shopping Guide. Business needs are also considered. Some Christian business values, such as fair labor, can significantly increase costs; however, they cannot be excluded for this reason alone. On the other hand, imposing high-cost requirements can effectively put a brand out of business! For example, if OVerus pizza brands were required to use all fair trade ingredients, it would (at least) double the cost of their product. This would also be a hardship for some shoppers. Those on a tight budget cannot afford to have their cost of living doubled. OVerus is thus offered in two flavors, split by the amount that the requirement increases the per-unit cost of an item. Standard certification requirements each add less than a U.S. penny of cost per unit. Each OVerus-C, or "dash-C" requirement raises the per-unit cost of an item by more than a penny. The intent is to be sensitive to the good stewards on a tight budget. This system enables makes it possible for them to choose a brand that respects a strong set of core Christian values, but will not cause undue hardship. The shopper is to make a decision in conscience. Standard Requirements: A. Greatest Commandment When asked which commandment was greatest, Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." B. The Judgment of Nations. Jesus taught us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit those in prison. Certified brands are to support at least one of these. C. PRODUCT/SERVICE TYPE. Products and services fall into three categories, and only those considered acceptable can be certified:    (1) ACCEPTABLE. Products/Services are numerous and make up the majority of goods produced. Food, clothing, cars, real estate, newspapers, airline tickets, taxi rides, accounting services, travel arrangements, and pizza are just a few of the products/services in this category.    (2) DEBATABLE. There is disagreement among the Christian denominations about some products and services, such as cigarettes. OVerus has decided to err on the side of caution, and currently items in this category cannot be certified.    (3) INELIGIBLE. Products and services that disregard Christian values, such as a pornographic magazine.        1. RETAILER CLAUSE: Retailers must pull all ineligible goods from the shelves. D. RESPECT FAMILY VALUES: A product or service must respect family values with its community involvement policies and charitable contributions. They may not donate to a cause that disrespects life, or seeks to redefine marriage. E. LEGAL AND ETHICAL OPERATION: Should a company be convicted of illegal operation, or carry out, in the judgment of The OVerus Organization, a gross ethical violation or breach of trust with the community, OVerus certification may be denied or revoked. F. GENERAL. This list is by no means complete, and each company must be treated individually, and prayerfully evaluated against the Light of Christ. Applicable parables, interpretations, and advice of board members is invaluable in making recommendations and decisions. OVerus-C, or "dash-C" Requirements: OVerus-C requirements advocate for the worker, and is similar in some ways to fair labor certifications. Like most certifications of this type, dash-C significantly increases the per-unit cost of a product. It is still in its preliminary stages, but the following criteria have already been outlined: A. MINIMUM WAGE. Workers are to be paid a minimum wage equivalent to the United States minimum wage. B. CHILD LABOR. Minimum working age is 14 years old. C. DAY OF REST. Workers are to be allowed a minimum of one full 24 hour day off per week. D. HEALTH CARE. Workers are to be provided with a health care plan. E. EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK. Men and women shall be paid equally for equal work.